On June 1, the Interledger Foundation officially launched the Open Payments Accelerator, a new four-month program designed to help builders turn promising ideas into working proofs-of-concept that advance interoperable payments.
Since the launch, we've been excited to see interest from developers, founders, startups, nonprofits, and innovators exploring how Open Payments and Interledger technologies can help create more connected payment experiences. As applications continue to come in, we wanted to take a moment to highlight what makes this opportunity unique and encourage prospective applicants to start preparing their submissions.
Why Open Payments?
Despite significant advances in digital payments, many payment systems still operate in isolation. Moving money across platforms, providers, and networks often requires complex integrations, proprietary solutions, and unnecessary friction for both businesses and users.
_Open Payments offers a different approach.
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By enabling interoperable payments through open standards, Open Payments creates new opportunities for developers and organizations to build experiences that work across systems rather than being limited to a single network or provider. The result is a more connected ecosystem where innovation can happen faster and where value can move more freely.
The Open Payments Accelerator is designed to help teams explore these possibilities through practical exploration and validation.
Learn About Open Payments During Open Payments Learning Month
For those who are new to Open Payments or want to deepen their understanding before applying, the Interledger Foundation is also hosting Open Payments Learning Month throughout June. The initiative offers multiple opportunities to learn about Open Payments and the broader Interledger ecosystem, including:
- Self-paced learning resources and educational content.
- Community calls and discussions.
- Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions with Interledger Foundation representatives and ecosystem experts.
- Opportunities to connect with fellow builders and community members.
- Additional activities designed to help participants better understand Open Payments technologies, use cases, and implementation approaches.
Whether you're considering an application to the Accelerator or simply want to learn more about interoperable payments, Open Payments Learning Month is a great place to start, sign up now.
Building the Open Payments Ecosystem Together
The Open Payments Accelerator is more than a development program. It is an investment in the builders helping shape the future of interoperable payments. By supporting early-stage innovation, the program aims to strengthen the broader Open Payments ecosystem, encourage experimentation with open standards, and create new pathways for collaboration across the Interledger community.
Whether you're creating a merchant payment solution, experimenting with cross-platform payment experiences, developing ecosystem tooling, or exploring entirely new applications for interoperable payments, the Accelerator is an opportunity to test and refine your ideas with support from experienced mentors and peers.
What Participants Will Receive
Selected teams will join a small cohort of builders working on real-world applications of Open Payments technologies. Over the course of four months, participants will:
- Develop and validate a proof of concept.
- Receive technical mentorship from experts within the Interledger ecosystem.
- Gain hands-on experience with Open Payments, Rafiki, and related technologies.
- Access funding to support project development.
- Participate in structured workshops, mentorship sessions, and peer learning opportunities.
- Present their work during a Virtual Demo Day at the conclusion of the program.
The program is intentionally designed for early-stage projects. Applicants do not need a fully developed product or company to participate. Instead, we are looking for teams with strong ideas, technical capability, and a clear vision for how interoperability can solve meaningful challenges.
Who Should Apply?
We encourage applications from:
- Developers and software engineers.
- Startup founders and entrepreneurs.
- Open-source contributors.
- Nonprofit and mission-driven organizations.
- Researchers and technical innovators.
- Teams building payment applications, infrastructure, developer tools, integrations, or new Open Payments use cases.
We are excited to see the ideas, projects, and teams that emerge from this inaugural cohort.
Applications are currently open and will close on June 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Please review our Program Resource Kit for application guidance, templates, and key information to help you prepare a strong submission.
If you're interested in building the next generation of interoperable payment solutions, now is the time to apply.
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